2013 - 2014

2012 - 2013

Charging Policy

Introduction

1. This charging policy has been compiled in line with DCSF requirements and in accordance with s457 of the Education Act, 1996.

School Trips

2. Day Trips. No charge will be levied in respect of day trips that take place during school hours or are part of the curriculum. (but also refer to section 18).
3. Residential trips – Essential. For residential trips which are essential to the National Curriculum, statutory RE or in preparation for prescribed examinations, a charge will be levied for board and lodging.
4. Residential trips – Non-essential. For residential trips which are not essential to the National Curriculum, statutory RE or in preparation for prescribed examinations a charge will be levied up to the full cost of the trip including contingency and school administrative costs.

Examination Entries

5. A charge will be levied in respect of examination entries for pupils where the school has not prepared the pupil for the examination.
6. A charge will be levied in respect of examination entries for pupils where
- The school has prepared the pupil for the examination and it considers that for educational reasons the pupil should not be entered and the pupil’s parent/guardian wishes the pupil to be entered (or pupil him/herself when over 18 years old).
7. In these circumstances, if the pupil subsequently passes the examination, the school may refund the cost.
8. A charge may be levied for pupils re-sitting an examination.
9. A charge will be levied where a pupil fails without good reason to complete the requirements of any public examination where the school paid or agreed to pay the entry fee.
9.1 A charge will be levied for the cost of individual invigilation where behaviour is deemed to be a risk of disruption to other pupils.
10. The charge levied in 6 – 8 above will be the cost of the examination entry, plus any applicable centre.
N.B. School reserves the right to withhold exam certification until payments are made.

Materials & Textbooks

11. Where a pupil or parent wishes to retain items produced as a result of art, craft and design, or design and technology, a charge may be levied for the cost of the materials used. In the case of Food Technology, pupils usually provide their own ingredients, but if the pupil forgets, the school provides the ingredients and levies a charge. Textbooks are provided free of charge, but in some subjects, additional revision guides are available, for which a charge is made.
11.1 A flat rate charge will be made for any unreturned text book once the pupil leaves school.

Music Tuition

12. The school levies charges in respect of individual music tuition, and group music tuition up to and including 4 persons, if the teaching is not an essential part of either the National Curriculum or a public examination syllabus being followed by the pupil. 50% discount is available to pupils whose families are entitled to free school meals.

Activities Outside School Hours

13. No charge will be made for activities outside school hours that are part of the National Curriculum or religious education, or that form an essential part of the syllabus for an approved examination.
14. If a pupil is prepared outside school hours for an examination that is not set out in regulations (the full list of which is available from the school), a charge will be levied for tuition and other costs.
15. For all other activities outside school hours, a charge up to the cost of the activity will be levied.

Damage/Loss to Property

16. A charge will be levied in respect of wilful damage, neglect or loss of school property (including premises, furniture, equipment, books or materials), the charge to be the cost of replacement or repair, or such lower cost as the Headteacher may decide.
17. A charge will be levied in respect of wilful damage, neglect or loss of property (including premises, furniture, equipment, books or materials) belonging to a third party, where the cost has been recharged to the school. The charge to be the cost of replacement or repair, or such lower cost as the Headteacher may decide.

Voluntary Contributions

18. Where the school cannot levy charges, and it is not possible to make these additional activities within the resources ordinarily available to the school, the school may request or invite parents to make a contribution towards the cost of the trip which may include specific costs in relation to pupils with special needs. Pupils will not be treated differently according to whether or not their parents have made any contribution in response to the request or invitation. However, where there are not enough voluntary contributions to make the activity possible, then it may be cancelled.

Lettings

19. The school will make its facilities available to outside users at a charge of at least the cost of providing the facilities. The scale of charges will be determined annually by the Finance Committee. For users connected to the school, e.g. Advanced Motorists, Show Band, the charge will be based on the site staff overtime costs.

Other charges

20. The Headteacher, Finance Committee or Governing Body may levy charges for miscellaneous services up to the cost of providing such services e.g. for providing a copy of an OFSTED report.

Remissions Policy

21. The Headteacher, Finance Committee or Governing Body may remit in full or part charges in respect of a pupil, if it feels it is reasonable in the circumstances.
22. The Headteacher, Finance Committee or Governing Body may decide not to levy charges in respect of a particular activity, if it feels it is reasonable in the circumstances.

Employers’ Liability Insurance

Freedom of Information Act and Data Protection Act

If you are dissatisfied with our response to your information request you may ask us, in writing, to conduct an internal review. That review will be carried out by a senior member of staff who has not previously been involved with the request. We will inform you of the outcome of the internal review as soon as possible.

How to appeal

Once you have received our response to your request for information, you must appeal within one calendar month.
You should write to us, explaining why you are not satisfied with our response. For example, we may have refused to give you some or all of the information requested; you may think we are taking too long to supply the information (more than 20 working days under the Freedom of Information Act or for subject access requests (SARs) 40 working days); or you may feel that you have been wrongly charged a fee. The appeal must be in writing; you can send it by post or e-mail to:
Clerk to the Governing Body
The Dean Trust
c/o Ashton on Mersey School
Cecil Avenue
Sale
Cheshire
M33 5BP
Email: office@aom.trafford.sch.uk
There are two possible stages to the process: first an internal review by Dean Trust officers; then, if you are not satisfied with the outcome, an appeal to an external body.

Stage one: internal review

The review will be conducted by a member of our Senior Leadership Team who would not have been involved in the original decision.
The reviewer will consider all the details of the original request and decision, and the grounds given for appealing against it. In doing so they may talk to the staff who dealt with the original request, obtain advice from other sources, including legal advice, or contact you directly for further details or clarification.
We aim to review the request within 20 working days. If we are unable to respond within this timescale, we will write to you explaining why there is a delay and advising when we expect to be able to respond.

Outcomes of the internal review

We will keep full records of the review and its outcome.
We will inform you of the outcome, and ensure that the agreed action is taken. There are three possible outcomes:

the original decision is reversed. We will advise you of the result, and what we will do and when; for example, when we will supply the information

the original decision is amended. Again, we will inform you about what we plan to do and when

the original decision is upheld. In that case, we will give you details of a possible second stage – an appeal to the relevant external body.

Stage two: appeal to the Information Commissioner

Before you can appeal to the ICO, you must have been through the first stage of internal review by the Dean Trust. Appeals should be in writing, setting out why you are not satisfied with our response and the outcome of the internal review. Details of the processes are available from the ICO - see the contact details below.

Contact details

Freedom of Information Publication Scheme

Publication Scheme on information available under the Freedom of Information Act 2000

1. Introduction: what a publication scheme is and why it has been developed

One of the aims of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (which is referred to as FOIA in the rest of this document) is that public authorities, including all maintained schools and academies, should be clear and proactive about the information they will make public. To do this we must produce a publication scheme, setting out:

The classes of information which we publish or intend to publish;

The manner in which the information will be published; and

Whether the information is available free of charge or on payment.

The scheme covers information already published and information which is to be published in the future. All information in our publication scheme will available on our website or is available in paper form. Some information which we hold may not be made public, for example personal information. This publication scheme conforms to the model scheme for schools approved by the Information Commissioner.

2. School Aims and Objectives

To provide opportunities in order to assist all pupils to achieve their full potential and to treat pupils as we would wish to have our own children treated. The following principles underline everything we do:

A respect for all pupils and their parents.

A full commitment to professionalism.

A well-ordered and caring school community.

School Aims to:

Help pupils to achieve their full academic potential.

Help pupils to acquire knowledge and skills relevant to adult life, employment and leisure in a fast changing world.

Help pupils to be literate and numerate.

Encourage the principles of common sense and courtesy and to develop a respect for other people and their property.

Help and encourage all concerned to maintain the school’s good reputation.

Create a happy and stable environment in which learning can take place.

Help Pupils to Develop:

Lively, enquiring minds.

The ability to question and debate rationally.

The ability to apply themselves to tasks and physical skills.

Help pupils to understand the effect of human activities on the environment.

Help pupils understand and respect the world in which they live and the interdependence of individuals, groups of people and nations.

Help pupils develop sensitivity, empathy, tolerance, self-control, sympathy and an understanding of others.

Help pupils contribute to an industrialised and highly technological society.

Help pupils to understand enterprise, wealth creation and entrepreneurial skills.

Help pupils to develop an interest in their own good health and acquire the skills to make positive choices and decisions throughout their lives.

Increase pupils’ awareness of the wide variety of religious and cultural experiences, beliefs and practices to be found in the world so that they may develop an awareness and understanding of their own beliefs and respect the rights and values of others.

Offer pupils equality of opportunity in learning, regardless of gender or special educational needs.

Combat racial discrimination and prejudice.

3. Categories of information published

The publication scheme guides you to information which we currently publish (or have recently published) or which we will publish in the future. This is split into categories of information known as ‘classes’. These are contained in section 6 of this scheme. The classes of information that we undertake to make available are organised into four broad topic areas:
School Prospectus – information published in the school prospectus.
Governors’ Documents – minutes of and papers considered at, meetings of the governing body and its committees.
Pupils & Curriculum – information about policies that relate to pupils and the school curriculum.
School Policies and other information related to the school - information about policies that relate to the school in general.

4. How to request information

If you require a paper version of any of the documents within the scheme, please contact the school by telephone, email, fax or letter. Contact details are set out below (or you can visit our website at aomschool.com).
Email: office@aom.trafford.sch.uk
Tel: 0161 973 1179
Contact Address: Cecil Avenue, Sale, Manchester M33 5BP
To help us process your request quickly, please clearly mark any correspondence “PUBLICATION SCHEME REQUEST” (in CAPITALS please) If the information you’re looking for isn’t available via the scheme and isn’t on our website, you can still contact the school to ask if we have it.

5. Paying for information

Information published on our website is free, although you may incur costs from your Internet service provider. If you don’t have Internet access, you can access our website using a local library or an Internet café. Single copies of information covered by this publication are provided free unless stated otherwise in section 6. If your request means that we have to do a lot of photocopying or printing, or pay a large postage charge, or is for a priced item such as some printed publications or videos we will let you know the cost before fulfilling your request.

6. Classes of Information Currently Published

School Prospectus – this section sets out information published in the school prospectus.

Class

Description

School Prospectus

The statutory contents of the school prospectus are as follows, (other items may be included in the prospectus at the school’s discretion):
• the name, address and telephone number of the school, and the type of school
• the names of the Executive Headteacher, Headteacher and chair of governors
• information on the school policy on admissions together with information about the right to appeal
• a statement of the school's ethos and values
• information about the school's policy on providing for pupils with special educational needs

School Profile and other information relating to the governing body – this section sets out information published governing body documents.

Class

Description

Governing Body

• details of the governing body membership, including names and contact details and the basis on which they have been appointed

Minutes of meetings (1) of the governing body and its committee

Agreed minutes of meetings of the governing body and its committees [current and last full academic school year]
Some information might be confidential or otherwise exempt from the publication by law – we cannot therefore publish this

Pupils & Curriculum Policies - This section gives access to information about policies that relate to pupils and the school curriculum.

Class

Description

Home–school agreement

Statement of the school’s aims and values, the school’s responsibilities, the parental responsibilities and the school’s expectations of its pupils for example homework arrangements

Sex Education Policy

Statement of policy with regard to sex and relationship education

Special Education Needs Policy

Information about the school's policy on providing for pupils with special educational needs

Accessibility Plans

Plan for increasing participation of disabled pupils in the school’s curriculum, improving the accessibility of the physical environment and improving delivery of information to disabled pupils.

Equality Policy

Statement of policy for promoting equality

Safeguarding Policy

Statement of policy for safeguarding and promoting welfare of pupils at the school.

School behaviour policy

Statement of general principles on behaviour and discipline and of measures taken by the head teacher to prevent bullying.

School Policies and other information related to the school - This section gives access to information about policies that relate to the school in general.

Class

Description

Published reports of Ofsted referring expressly to the school

Published report of the last inspection of the school and the summary of the report and where appropriate inspection reports of religious education in those schools designated as having a religious character

Charging and Remissions Policies

A statement of the school’s policy with respect to charges and remissions for which charges are permitted, for example school publications, music tuition, trips

School session times and term dates

Details of school session and dates of school terms and holidays

Health and Safety Policy

Statement of general policy with respect to health and safety at work of employees (and others) and the organisation and arrangements for carrying out the policy

Complaints procedure

Statement of procedures for dealing with complaints

Staff Conduct, Discipline and Grievance

Statement of procedure for regulating conduct and discipline of school staff and procedures by which staff may seek redress for grievance

Data Protection Policy

Details of the schools responsibility under the Data Protection Act 1998

7. Feedback and Complaints

We welcome any comments or suggestions you may have about the scheme. If you want to make any comments about this publication scheme or if you require further assistance or wish to make a complaint then initially this should be addressed to the Chief Executive, Mr T. Kapur. If you are not satisfied with the assistance that you get or if we have not been able to resolve your complaint and you feel that a formal complaint needs to be made then this should be addressed to the Information Commissioner’s Office. This is the organisation that ensures compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and that deals with formal complaints. They can be contacted at: Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF or Enquiry/Information Line: 01625 545 700
Email: publications@ic-foi.demon.co.uk
Website: www.ico.org.uk
Note: The governing body is responsible for maintenance of this scheme.

Privacy Statement

Privacy Notice – Data Protection Act 1998

We The Dean Trust are a data controller for the purposes of the Data Protection Act. We collect information from you and may receive information about you from your previous school and the Learning Records Service. We hold this personal data and use it to:

Support your teaching and learning;

Monitor and report on your progress;

Provide appropriate pastoral care, and

Assess how well your school is doing.

This information includes your contact details, national curriculum assessment results, attendance information and personal characteristics such as your ethnic group, any special educational needs and relevant medical information. If you are enrolling for post 14 qualifications we will be provided with your unique learner number (ULN) by the Learning Records Service and may also obtain from them details of any learning or qualifications you have undertaken.
We will not give information about you to anyone outside the school without your consent unless the law and our rules allow us to.
We are required by law to pass some information about you to the Department for Education (DfE) and, in turn, this will be available for the use(s) of the Local Authority.
If you want to see a copy of the information about you that we hold and/or share, please contact Mr N David, Business and Finance Manager.
If you require more information about how the Local Authority (LA) and/or DfE store and use your information, then please go to the following websites:
http://www.trafford.gov.uk/ andmedia.education.gov.ukWho the department passes pupil data to
If you are unable to access these websites we can send you a copy of this information. Please contact the LA or DfE as follows:
Corporate Information Officer
Quay West
Trafford Wharf Road
Trafford Park
M17 1HH
data.protection@trafford.gov.uk
0161 912 1324
Public Communications Unit
Department for Education
Sanctuary Buildings
Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BT
Website: www.education.gov.uk
Email: http://www.education.gov.uk/help/contactus
Telephone: 0370 000 2288

In addition for Secondary and Middle deemed Secondary Schools

Once you are aged 13 or over, we are required by law to pass on certain information to the provider of youth support services in your area. This is the local authority support service for young people aged 13 to 19 in England. We must provide the address of you and your parents (and your date of birth) and any further information relevant to the support services’ role.
However, until you are aged 16 or older, your parent(s) can ask that no information beyond your name, address and date of birth (and their name and address) be passed on to the youth services provider. This right transfers to you on your 16th birthday. Please inform Mr N David if this is what you or your parents wish.
For more information about young peoples’ services, please go to the Directgov Young People page at www.direct.gov.uk/en/YoungPeople/index.htm or the LA website shown above.